AFC Asian Cup
At 20 years old, he had already scored his first senior international goal in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers in 2017 against Cambodia but it was the arrival of Park Hang-seo as head coach for both the Under-23s and full senior set-up that turned Quang Hai into a household name.
Factfile
Age: 29
Caps: 88
Goals: 16
Club: Cong An Ha Noi FC (VIE)
Age: 29
Caps: 88
Goals: 16
Club: Cong An Ha Noi FC (VIE)
The snowy backdrop of the AFC U-23 Championship China 2018™ became the tournament in which Quang Hai showed the continent just how prodigious he was.
With five goals in the tournament including a spectacular free-kick in the final against Uzbekistan, he signed off having shown his silky playmaking skills from midfield as Vietnam contested a continental final for the first time.
With five goals in the tournament including a spectacular free-kick in the final against Uzbekistan, he signed off having shown his silky playmaking skills from midfield as Vietnam contested a continental final for the first time.
From then on, Quang Hai was almost untouchable as he led the Golden Star Warriors to victory at the AFF Championship 2018 and was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament, and was in red-hot form as Vietnam headed into the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019™.
The left-footer scored the opening goal in the 2-0 win against Yemen in their final Group D match that secured Vietnam’s spot in the Round of 16.
Trivia
Since the 2007 edition, no side has conceded more direct free-kick goals in AFC Asian Cup than Vietnam (4).
Quang Hai’s star shone brightly in the 1-0 win against Jordan in the next match as well as their 1-0 defeat against Japan in the quarter-final, with his performances earning him a place in the team of the tournament.
Much was expected of the Hanoi-born after that with a move to the French league in June 2022 with second division side Pau FC but limited game time and injuries curtailed his European ambitions as he joined Cong An Ha Noi FC a year later.
Much was expected of the Hanoi-born after that with a move to the French league in June 2022 with second division side Pau FC but limited game time and injuries curtailed his European ambitions as he joined Cong An Ha Noi FC a year later.
Beset by injuries and low confidence, Quang Hai was a shadow of his former self as he found himself more often than not on the bench for Vietnam rather than a starter.
But the steely determination to rediscover his best was obvious and Quang Hai has slowly but surely worked his way back to a starting position in Kim Sang-sik’s team and can be expected to shine at the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™.
But the steely determination to rediscover his best was obvious and Quang Hai has slowly but surely worked his way back to a starting position in Kim Sang-sik’s team and can be expected to shine at the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™.
